Blue Book of Gun Values

[johnny blaze]

I have been doing some research on used guns, both on the net and locally.
I have been using the Blue Book Of Gun Values (2006) version.
Excluding the Colts,which are going up very fast, most of the guns are way under valued in the book.
Lets say for example a Smith and Wesson 617. The book lists them in the 200 to 300 price range. I have looked at many, and bought a couple. I have never seen one below 375, and more like 450 to 550.00.
Another example is a 642. They list it between like 180.00 to 240.00. I have never seen one at this price.
And the list goes on and on.
I guess my question is, What good are these value books, when they are not even close on many of the guns?
I know it is just a reference. I just wonder where they come up with these values.

 

[Ala Dan]

I am look'in in the twenty-seventh edition of Blue Book Of Gun Values and
MSRP is $720 on a S&W model 617; with $470 = 100%, $365 = 98%, and
$240 in 95% condition. Add $22 for 4" barrel, $28 for a 10-shot 6" model,
and $54 for an 8-3/8" barrel (discontinued). We have a 6" model NIB in stock
right now that we will sell for $569~!

 

[GunNut]

They are good for gun stores.

One of my local dealers will pay the 100% price for used Smith & Wesson's, then put them on the shelf at $50-100 over that cost which is what they are worth locally.

Basically someone is saying today the day we printed this book, this gun is woth XXX price, here(wherever that is).

 

[J2]

The prices listed in this book are pretty much useless in my part of the world. I think they are designed for sellers/gun shops primarily. The prices on many of the guns listed (for instance, S&W's) are waaaay low. I think this book's primary purpose is to provide the buyer(gun dealer) something in black and white to show you how they are giving you such a "good" deal for your trade-in.

 

[GreenFurniture]

Most gun stores are trying to make their "retirement" lick off of 1 gun sale.

Some are not.

When using the Blue Book for valuation of trades/purchases we always specify when they are 'soft' on pricing and usually pay more for the item.

If you took the time to look at all prices for all weapons you would also notice that there are some examples that are priced at the pie-in-the-sky range.

 

[Jim K]

Not especially defending the Blue Book, but prices do vary from place to place and over time. Probably not a good example, but a Winchester 100 is not worth a lot in PA where semi-autos are illegal for hunting. Retail prices on guns depend on a lot of things including how much competition there is, and how much trouble dealers have to go to when making a sale. In an area with reams of paperwork to be filled out, a dealer is going to charge for the time and trouble.

I have always considered the Blue Book, like other price guides (e.g. the coin Red Book), a guideline, not a rigid indicator of price. And it comes out yearly, not like some of the older price books that seemed to be updated once a century whether the prices changed or not.

Jim

 

[Bobhwry]

The best indicator of what a gun is worth is the market and what someone is willing to pay. Check the on-line auctions and look for completed auctions. This is what people pay.Blue book values are pretty much worthless because they are outdated by the time they are published and only favor dealers who will discount at least 20% and then charge another 20% on consignment.
Cabelas gun library is a ripoff.You will be lucky to get 60% value then they will mark it up 20% over bluebook.

 

[XavierBreath]

The Blue Book of Gun Values is a compilation of average prices a particular gun in a particular condition sold for a couple of years previously.

The price on the tag attached to a gun on a dealer's shelf is what the dealer hopes to get today.

There is a difference.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

I always thought of it as a bargaining tool. Conversation I had at a dealer way up the line while I was camping

"You want $250... For that thing? You can't be serious"

"Of course, now do you want it or not?"

"Of course I do, but how can you charge $250 for that gun when it's value at 100% is $110?"

"That's a low number, this guns worth way more then that"

Extricate new (At the time) edition of the blue book with ear marked page. Point out the gun in question

"Not according to this it isn't, and I'm sorry, but this gun is FAR from 100%"

Guy behind the counter kind of sighed and looked close at the book before rubbing the back of his neck

"Fine, tell you what. Gimme $165 for it and I'll throw in the accessory kit, sling, and 10 boxes of ammo"

"Deal"

I always viewed it this way:

Gun stores will cost you a little more then the average price and online dealers, convenience, being able to inspect it, hold it, work it, and, if you're like me, being able to ask questions. I'd say that's worth the extra $20 or $40 they tack on. Or, you can get lucky and talk them down, can't do that online or other places

 

[JohnBT]

It's all about variations, scarcity and relative prices. You're better off with a Blue Book than without. Well, I suppose if you have wireless access to the web while you're shopping for guns you don't need one, but it's still good to know what everybody is looking at - and they are looking at the Blue Book.

John

 

[Vaarok]

Utterly worthless for anything military that isn't already a stratospherically expensive and rare martial arm.

 

[JohnBT]

You mean you don't like looking at the Schmidt-Rubins? Or that the numbers are way off?

MODEL 1931
Grading 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60%
$650 $600 $525 $450 $285 $250 $225

Add 500% for sniper variations.
Subtract 30% if import marked.

Model 1911:

Okay, I admit the pic is off their site and not out of the book. John

Edited to add 1911 and not the 1931 I'd typed.

 

[Majic]

Don't forget by the time the book reach the shelves the information is close to 2 years old. The info has to be collected, put in book form, edited, and published. that takes time while the prices keep rising. Also all guns don't rise in price by the same rate. Some guns for what ever reason becomes popular and their price rise at a different rate.
Before the internet the Blue Book was a good source, but today you have access to real time information. You can see what certain guns sold for today which determines the value vs what they sold for 2 years ago.

 

[Bobhwry]

Majic,
Amen! Nothing else needs to be said.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

The Blue Book fits

nicely on the windowsill next to the throne, and therein lies it's beauty.
It's easily accessible.

Prices are variable, but in the bluebook, you can learn the goofy Browning choke nomenclature, find out how many short barrel SSAs were made under a navy contract, and get the address for Norinco.
And you don't need a new one every year.

Soakers

 

[gezzer]

For prices the Blue book is a guide not the HOLY GRAIL. On 50% or more they are well behind current trends. Wonder where they get their prices from? Current trends before it was published and printed. Absolutely 1-2 years behind.

Their description area and grading however, is the BEST in the industry well beyond the NRA grading method.

 

[Bobhwry]

I like their grading system but the prices are educated guesses at best and two years old when published!! With the internet the Blue book is obsolete.

 

[22-rimfire]

The Blue Book of Gun Values by Fjestad is the best thing out there. I have often wondered if the pricing is their estimate of the value at the time of publication or their estimate of the value from previous year's sales? Either way, nothing is perfect. With internet auctions now, you can get a pretty fair estimate of the value of a particular popular firearm these days.

As a buyer, it is good to know the market and be as current as possible so you can recognize a deal or negotiate a fair price. As a seller, the BB gives gun owners an inflated view of firearm values if you sell by the traditional routes such as at gunshows, ads in the paper, or to a dealer as part of a trade. I like the Blue Book valuation system for cars. They provide values based on condition that are for both retail and wholesale (ie through a dealer).

 

[Starter52]

I relied heavily on the Blue Book back in the day, but with the internet and online auctions the Blue Book is less important to me. I suppose a dealer who encounters many different guns each week could find a good use for the book.

Of course, we all have seen "that dealer" at gun shows who carries two editions of the Blue Book; a current one for the guns he sells, and a 1999 edition that he hauls out when you're trading in a gun.

 

[plexreticle]

It's good if you find some oddball gun or rarity and have no clue of its value.

 

[wooderson]

Just a heads up, but the current edition is searchable on Amazon. If you know a specific model you want to look up, you can find it along with the next couple of pages from the book.